tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post4626959709707207839..comments2017-09-25T08:15:50.028-04:00Comments on John Hanger's Facts of The Day: American Rivers Mistakenly Designates Susquehanna Most Endangered RiverJohn Hangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06565915866938789295noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-28630354920644247042011-05-19T16:19:00.597-04:002011-05-19T16:19:00.597-04:00I appreciate your comment. It engages seriously wi...I appreciate your comment. It engages seriously with the numbers about water withdrawals. Please see the April 5th posting on this blog entitled: &quot;See the Top 9 water users and where drillers rank.&quot; The data comes from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and has been endorsed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. In one sense 2 million gallons is a lot of water. But 2 million gallons withdrawn by drillers in terms of the total water withdrawn every day from rivers is the proverbial drop in the bucket. Again it is LESS than 0.2% of all water withdrawn. 2 million gallons is even a smaller percentage of the total daily flow of water in our rivers. The Susquehanna itself has an enormous total flow, in the trillions of gallons each year. Also again water withdrawals are tightly regulated and have been since 2008 when a water plan must be filed with the drilling permit. And again the water withdrawal decision is based on a protective standard. The standard assumes that streams are ALWAYS in drought or low flow. Only if the withdrawal would not damage a stream in drought is it approved.<br /><br />In terms of frack fluids returning from depth to contaminate ground water, the Duke study joins many other data points confirming that has not happened. <br /><br />In terms of spills and leaks, all companies within the industry must achieve excellence. The rate of spills and leaks must be reduced. Companies must pay to prevent them and pay to clean them up. More companies are adopting practices designed to prevent spills and leaks like placing liners at gas well sites. These practices should become regulatory minimums if not now required.<br /><br />Again the Susquehanna has never had more legal protection in the form of the TMDL, the August 2010 TDS water rule, the sewer plant clean ups, the drilling standards rule.<br /><br />Finally, it is also important to understand comparative risks. Less gas means more coal and oil. The environmental impacts from more coal and oil in the mining or drilling process plus the combustion process exceed gas by an enormous amount. We need to drive down the impacts of drilling through regulation and companies developing true culture of safety. But we also need to remember what happens if gas stops. Decisions about one energy source impact other energy sources. It is a reality.John Hangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06565915866938789295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664957094233317169.post-86050021354358572752011-05-19T12:57:33.278-04:002011-05-19T12:57:33.278-04:00You say with such confidence:
&quot;Water withdra...You say with such confidence: <br />&quot;Water withdrawals for drilling are not threatening at all the Susquehanna River.&quot;<br /><br />So American Rivers has no need for their concern:<br />&quot;The seriousness of the threat to the entire Susquehanna watershed cannot be overstated. Industry estimates indicate the potential for 400,000 wells across the Marcellus Shale – a number that would require, conservatively, 1.5 times the annual flow of the Susquehanna River to sustain. As part of the hydraulic fracturing (or ‘fracking’) process to extract natural gas, massive amounts of water are withdrawn from rivers and streams. Many of the streams being used for Marcellus Shale water withdrawals provide critical habitat for trout – a concern, especially during summer months when stream flows are already low.&quot;<br /><br />I assume their estimates of a potential 400,000 wells might well be excessive. But just 1000 wells x 2 million gallons...is a lot of water.<br /><br /><br />And what about their concern: &quot;Already, spills from trucks hauling wastewater, leaks from lined fluid holding pits, and cracked well casings have contaminated private water wells. The potential for future environmental and public health catastrophes along the Susquehanna will only increase, considering the number of new wells projected and the amount of toxic wastewater produced.&quot;<br /><br />I am sorry but I would rather go with their recommendation – &quot;Pennsylvania, New York, and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission need to announce a complete moratorium on water withdrawals and hydraulic fracturing until there are comprehensive regulations in place for natural gas development or they will put public health and drinking water at risk.&quot; – and wait until the studies are in. Is it just casement leaks on the upper levels that cause migrations of shallow gas into aquifers and home water wells? Because the fracturing explosions are 1 mile + down, are they really safe and not disturbing the environment in a harmful way? You too easily dismiss the inherent dangers, and thereby promote a reckless industrialization of Pennsylvania.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com